Aberdeen Mayor McGrady Defends City’s Sale of Moose Lodge

For several years the Aberdeen City Council has been trying to make the best of a former Council’s purchase of real estate; specifically in its efforts to find a use and potential purchaser for the former Moose Lodge building.

At the height of the last Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure initiative (BRAC), Aberdeen Proving Ground was earmarked to lose one of Maryland’s largest and most popular tourist attractions, the Army Ordnance Museum. With that in mind, in 2014 the former City Council purchased the Rogers Street based Moose Lodge for $435k.

Despite the deplorable condition of the building, the last Council had hoped to convert it into a museum for some of APG’s collection. After purchasing the building the City paid for a preliminary architectural design, and hired contractors to perform interior demolition and remove a leaking fuel storage tank. All in, approximately another $70k was spent on the Moose Lodge property.

Needless to say, the Army’s and City’s plans didn’t align, and since acquiring the building the City staff and Council have been pursuing ways and options to put the Moose Lodge back into private hands.

The goal, then and now, is to secure a viable business or organization with an achievable long-term vision, solid financial capabilities and a demonstrated track record to purchase the facility, make the necessary improvements that are desperately needed, and successfully open the doors.

Our estimates and those of contractors show from $500k to upwards of $1m will be necessary to remodel the building and improve the grounds. Due to the costs, challenging site location and other concerns, attempts to market the Lodge with organizations like the American Legion, Key Point Health Services and Aberdeen Parks and Recreation were all declined.

In December 2016, the City Council contracted with Aberdeen’s largest regional real estate broker, Mackenzie Retail, LLC to list the property. During the past 12 months Mackenzie received two offers, one from a church and the other a mosque, with neither complying with the City’s existing zoning requirements.

This Fall, two additional offers were received. One for $125k from Boothe Brothers & Associates to convert the facility to a banquet and conference center, and the other, from Mr. Arthur Helton for $50,000 to renovate the property and bring the long established Prost German Restaurant back to Aberdeen.

The City Council carefully weighed each proposal on their own merits and unanimously agreed to accept the proposal from Mr. Helton.

While they acknowledge and recognized the difference in the purchase price, Council determined the long term benefits of having a proven restaurant in downtown Aberdeen would create many new jobs, increase real property taxes and generate “spin off” economic activity across the City. Projections show approximately $700K will be invested in the building, with Prost tentatively opening its doors in the Spring of 2019.

It’s unfortunate the City spent so much on a property that really wasn’t worth it, but that’s hindsight, and hindsight can be perfect. Art Helton has a record of completing projects like this and we believe that it will in short order be not only tax-producing, but a draw to Aberdeen’s Historic downtown.

It seems the former administration of Bennet and his clan of sycophants are the ones to blame for this. They essentially overpaid for an abandoned and neglected building without doing any diligence besides a quick drive by.

I guess they didn’t want to drop $500 for a quick inspection.

If Helton can make a go if it, go for it. It’s an idly shaped lot in a non-commercial area, so it has to be a destination spot.

I think they made the right call. A Banquet and conference center might get used 1-2 nights a week. A restaurant is good for seven.

I am a citizen of Aberdeen who moved here a few years ago from out of state. I enjoy the area but am not thrilled with the sycophantic liberals on council more concerned with their little games than with getting the city on track.

The bad deals the former mayor and council cut are now coming home to roost, leaving the current council to do the heavy lifting. Who in their right mind would approve $465K for a ratty old building.

“Hey, let’s buy the building.”
“Did anyone check and see if APG will give us stuff for the museum?”
“Naaa, but they’ll do it. They like me.”

Sure, Helton got a good deal, but if they can make a go at it and are willing to drop $750K to do it, let’s go for it.

Just so I understand, it is ok for the city to lose $400,000 on a real estate deal and waste over $300,000 on trash cans but the Mayor McGrady is willing to poison the relationship with the Ripkens over not making enough money on a stadium that currently pays for itself. This is the same guy who ran the Campaign for Liberty. What happened? When you are running the show it is ok to waste tax payer dollars and hurt the largest business interest in the county. I get it. Hypocrisy. Take note voters. McGrady is no conservative and no libertarian. He is a profiteer.

Wow, you really are turning into a politician! State grants are taxpayer money that could be used for better things, and I have a strong feeling that the hotel tax revenue could be put to better use than supporting Cal’s hobby. I suppose that to you, spending the money that others are forced to pay (like union dues) is fun, painless and easy.

The hotel tax passed and was divided giving Aberdeen a large portion under the expectation that it would be used to offset maintenance costs for the stadium. The state grants did not cost the city anything. Further, the economic activity generated by the stadium more than offset the costs of these grants. Everyone, including McGrady knows it.

I have commented on this thread solely as a citizen. However, you should know that no one is forced to pay union dues. Everyone who pays dues does so because they know who has their best interests at heart.

With regard to Aberdeen City government spending, why in the name of God would the city spend over $300,000 to alleviate a $30,000 short fall in the trash collection? Why not just increase the sticker cost? Why would the city sell a $450,000 property for $50,000 without any explicit economic commitments? Why would city government seek to alienate one of the county’s most important economic drivers? If you look a little deeper into the numbers, you will find “Cal’s Hobby” brings a tremendous amount of money to businesses in the county, which translates into revenue for the city and county.

Further, if you look at my record as custodian of union dues, in written comments and in public comments before the board of education, as well as, county council, you will clearly see that I am not a spend thrift. I have advocated for fiscal responsibility at every turn. Get back to me after you check the record.

True, the state grants did not cost the city anything, but it did cost the Maryland taxpayers. All of it, paid for by all of us. Well, at least those of us who pay taxes. But I suppose since it’s government money, it’s considered free.

Yes, Cal’s Hobby brings so much to Aberdeen. Just look at how quickly the retail development adjacent to his stadium blossomed! And the World Series for the league that named itself after Cal was so successful that… he kicked them out. Maybe we can ask Cal about this the next time he’s at a Harford County Public Library branch pimping the latest book he ‘wrote’.

And true, no one is forced to pay union dues. Does your group participate in the Maryland Fair Share Act?

Actually Mr. Logic, when one looks at how much money Maryland gets from the Federal government and then how much Maryland contributes back to the pool of taxes of the Federal sham, one would have to come to the realization that Maryland spends money that was collected from other State’s tax payers. Maryland does nothing but contribute to the National debt every year. Maryland never pays more than Maryland receives. Yet Maryland has absolutely no regard for Federal law and has even sued the Federal government (Trump) over its habit of not adhering to Federal law. This State has serious problems and can not exist without Federal aid, yet continues to be in open rebellion against the Federal government and the Constitution of the US. I’m surprised the Feds haven’t defunded Maryland…..

The money generated by the Ripken Experience is both tax revenue form the hotel tax and tax revenue in the form of sales tax in local businesses. How do you think the folks at Marriott feel about this nonsense? Aberdeen needs to repair the relationship with Tufton. It needs to reach mutually agreeable terms which guarantee more $$$ generating events like concerts, etc are brought to the stadium. It needs to preserve city ownership and ensure that currently existing revenue streams are properly spent not wasted. If it agrees to sell property at reduced value, it needs to get economic development guarantees from new ownership. Most importantly, the Mayor and City Council need to take actions which improve the lives of our citizens. There must be vision for the city which transcends one transaction or another.

Mcgrady and city are owned by Art Helton. He gets what he wants and screw the taxpayers of Aberdeen. I don’t know why anybody is surprised. Art tried to say he was an Aberdeen resident when it was convenient, all while living in his house on harmony church Road in Churchville. Mcgrady is a spineless mayor. I hope Ripken baseball pulls out of the stadium. Mcgrady and the council are going to screw the business community on that deal also.

I hope the owner realizes the property next to the building normally has residents in tents and trash. What an eyesore this brings to our city. This area gets cleaned up and then months later it’s the tents reappear.

They are aware. Not an issue. Prost was originally located next to the Senior center. Those unfortunate never bothered the business before. The homeless only seem to be an issue for a few council members that tried to “fine” them.

Has anyone investigated the possible conflicts of interest of Tom Fidler, Mackenzie and Paul Thompson regarding the many roles that they’re playing in this fiasco with the Ironbirds/Ripkens? My lord! I don’t know how some folks sleep at night.

So Helton gets a half million dollar buiding for 50K and the poor schmuck that wants the old Aberdeen High School has to pay a half mil? Sounds like the good ole boy network and/or discrimination. If I was the buyer of the High School I would be yelling to the roof tops about unfair practices.